always in rear, reminders after 5th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
prominent, led after 10th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, no impression before last
held up in touch, ridden to chase clear leaders after 5 out, went remote 3rd next, plugged on same pace, no chance with front pair
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
held up in touch, pushed along 8th, soon behind, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, driven and lost place before 5 out, soon weakened, remote 4th 3 out, no chance with leaders, tailed off
led, hit 4th, headed 7th, tracked leader, led again 3 out, stayed on from next, ridden out flat
held up in touch, ridden to chase clear pair after 5 out to next, soon weakened, tailed off
prominent on outside, led 7th, ridden and headed after 10th, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before next
Nonrunner
Bang On Time, asked to concede weight all round on the back of an impressive run of form, was due to run at Newton Abbot on Wednesday evening, so he'll face a demanding task if turning out on successive days. Nothing can be comfortably ruled out here in a competitive opener with FOND MEMORY awarded a hopeful vote. He benefited from a fine hold-up ride when winning over course and distance last time and the shape of this contest looks ideal for Sam Twiston-Davies to repeat those tactics. Guiding George, course and distance winner American Legend and the open-to-improvement Greenlaw all make some appeal in a difficult opener.
King Boru (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 8th, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Master Malt (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Guiding George (IRE) 3-1fav (11-4) Chased leaders, hit 12th, outpaced after 5 out, plugging on in poor 4th when awkward 2 out, weakened into 5th after the last, 5th of 9, 28l behind Kilbree Kid (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Fond Memory (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Held up, headway 11th, went 2nd from 4 out, challenged 2 out, led and mistake last, stayed on, clear towards finish, won at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs beating Sergeant Dick (11-4) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
American Legend (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, closed after 10th, left 2nd 4 out, driven and no chance with winner before 2 out, lost 2nd between last 2, soon one pace and no impression, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Thomas Wild (10-13) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Grouse Lodge (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, went 2nd before and blundered 4 out, jumped left 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, well behind Sun Cloud (11-9) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Apr.
Bertie's Desire 10-3 (11-6) Tracked leaders in 3rd, lost place before 10th, headway to go 3rd before 3 out, one pace before last, 4th of 6, 17l behind Express Du Berlais (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Greenlaw 9-2 (10-10) Led 2nd, headed 5 out, ridden and one pace after 3 out, no impression with front pair from next, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Belmount (11-0) at Ludlow 3m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Vikekhal (FR) 5-4fav (11-12) Held up, jumped slowly and pushed along 9th, headway on outside approaching 4 out, 3rd next, no impression when switched right approaching last, stayed on into well held 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Venetian Lad (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
The Happy Warrior 9-1 (10-13) Jumped slowly 1st, in rear, blundered 6th, headway 8th, weakened after 11th, mistake 12th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Prince Des Marais (11-5) at Warwick 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs, 8 ran.
Bang On Time (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Chased leader, jumped slowly 3rd, not fluent 9th, challenged 11th, led 4 out, clear 2 out, easily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs beating Sergeant Dick (11-6) by 17l, 4 ran.
